The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-06-12
SYMBOLS OF FATE.
.e.o,Nc THE FUTURE IN THE GEO.
ue1etc LINES OF TEA GROUNDS.

,, o,.ol. m inexpensive Form
Of Destiny. but Not So sooia' ~
,.,r,-where the Mystic Quality Lies
Omens.
sOne--twO-three
sWhat does that meanf ., ,,;rl
avo,, ,,rst hold the teacup aloft and t"irl
:, ,,,,eo times in order 10 bring the Tea
grounds into a fortune telling SHAPE. 49,
cor il Il case Of well shaken before
TAKEN Is IT. 1900, tho hot
4Ycs. n fortune that only covered the oo.-
,om ~ the teacup would be avery umnteresV
ing one -,,... o ,.;rc,e in
,be bo,tom Of the cup, as the course al true
love and it runs smooth; this triangle OF piacK
sne,ks is a wish This black square IS a let
,sr. this flock OF birds means good news
Here are money and surprise,
aWhat is that thing in the side Of the cups
aTbst Is AN anchor Of tea leaves, 1t Is the
symbol Of hope
aHere is a visitor in my cup cries one
aBite il; If it is hard it is man. II II Is
soft 1t is lady" -.
The long tea Joint is fshed out and proves
10 be soft, so the guest will be lady Inc
gifted member Of a company who can Ieau
he tea,1,rs finds her hands full. No guest IS
"a ,iouifed that she does not evince some
curiosity as 10 her future Sometimes the
mildost hammered one finds gallO"s III the
mystical dregs.
When the leaves have no shape but are
massed in "A dark pyramid, II is bad Tor
tune" Occasionally the distinct shape OF
coffin can be traced Then an enhancing
shudder runs through the entire group Inc
plot thckensi The interest deepens- Inc
tea leaves become important factors IN tne
happiness Of a household.
TIE GEONETMC LINES.
Experts in f0recasting events ma rare
things in the geometric lines Of tea grounds
and it has become the fashion at tea gather
ings 10 read aloud each cup in turn, some
ladies even declining 10 leave the table until
the cup is read.
II is not as sociable social custom AZ palm
istry A man who despises the tattling OF
tea cup has no aversion TO having his hand
held by q pretty girl while the lines are read
But as men are not as a rule given u Tea
drinking they will not grope after futur1ty 10
the leaves.
But the teacup oracle is a very harmless
inexpensive form Of destiny. Its present
popularity is doubtless owing to that secret
craving after the supernatural which MARKS
the age 1t gives expression 10 an almost de
spairing wish TO see into the coming tomor-
row.
And in response 20 this demand come the
soothsayers, astrologers, seers clairyoyants,
seventh daughters Of seventh daughters and
Others who predict future events There are
secret sessions where the flower and chivairy
Of the best society attend, paying fee that
ranges from 81 TO sS-iust from curiosity
you know
What 70 learnt
The secrets Of the past, present or future.
There is always some lucky hit-lucky for
the fortune teller
The most Of people who have lived TO any
age have friends coming from a distance
Many have relatives who die and leave them
fortunes Young people are usually IN love
with some one Of the opposite sex WHO'S either
dark or fair, and journey is imminent IN
nearly all conditions. Crossing the water
may mean going over IA ferry on running
brook, as well as ocean.
THE MYSTIC QUALITY
But the mystic quality lies in the fact that
that the person telling all these things is an
announced soer-born with a caul, like David
Copperfield, and having intimate relations
with the word Of futurity and the powers Of
mystery.
No matter how ignorant Of the civilizng
influences of this life the inspired fortune
teller may be, how cheaply gotten up, or with
what sOrdld circumstances enyironed, pro-
fesSors of all tho sciences are willing TO knee
at her feet 10 learn the secrets Of the past,
present and future from her occult knOwl-
edge.
A new mythology would be boon 10
society in its present condition, when every
body is looking for a sign.
The Growing Of the cock was an omen of
Ill to Peter 1t heralds visitor in these days
Us well a change in the weather
If you drop the scissors Il fork or a pen,
and the point sticks in the floor, somebody is
coming
If your nose itches you are going to kiss
fool
II your left hand tickles you viii handle
sum Of money.
II the right hand, you will shake hands
with friend
II you first see a visitor in the looking glass
1t is a sign Of misfortune.
Two spoons signify wedding; teaspoons
are understood.
But these signs Of necrOmancy are as old as
the doings Of Macbeth's witches, whose weird
incantations are practiced 10 this day. In
deed "A ShakeSDaare fortune telling hook
would not be bad enterprise II would give
u higher tone 10 the soothsayer's art 1t
might be called Easy Lessons la the Hora
ton Philosophy" and serve as a textbook IN
supernatural lore with a motto by the second
witch
"By the pricking OF my thumbs
Something wicked this way comes"
Detroit Free Press